Franklin county jail substance use recovery and RE-entry program will increase community capacity to address challenges associated with substance use disorders (SUD), CO-occurring mental health…

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and other Substances Use Program (CFDA 16.838) to the County of Franklin, Maine. The grant will fund the Franklin County Jail Substance Use Recovery and Re-Entry Program (FRP), which aims to increase community capacity to address substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health issues, and related social challenges in Franklin County. Key program components include expanding deflection and diversion initiatives, improving access to treatment and recovery services, enhancing data-driven decision making, and strengthening collaborations among law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations. The project will operate from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027, focusing on system-level changes to support individuals affected by substance use and related crime in this predominantly rural region.

Franklin county jail substance use recovery and RE-entry program will increase community capacity to address challenges associated with substance use disorders (SUD), CO-occurring mental health disorders, and related social issues in franklin county, maine. The franklin county jail substance use recovery and RE-entry program (franklin RE-entry program - FRP) is designed to comprehensively address the impact of illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances through a multi-faceted approach that is also supportive of the sequential intercept model. The project service area includes all of franklin county, maine with an estimated population of 29,450. IT is the least populous county in maine, which is the most rural state in the nation. Spanning 1,697 square miles (about the area of rhode island), from central maine to the canadian border, franklin county includes substantial tracts of frontier land. IT is designated very rural; with a population density of 18.1 people per square mile; eleven towns are medically underserved. The FRP will focus on systems level change to increase access to treatment, recovery, and reentry services during the pre-release phase. Central to this program is fostering robust collaborations across community stakeholders to enhance prevention, response, treatment, and support efforts for individuals affected by substance use and related crime, including overdose fatalities. This initiative focuses on increasing the capacity of these partnerships to utilize data effectively, enabling informed decision-making and targeted deployment of resources to combat public health and crime trends. The FRP emphasizes the expansion of deflection and diversion programs involving law enforcement and first responders, facilitating direct connections to treatment, and supporting efforts to prevent and respond to overdoses and drug-related crime. Establishing and strengthening collaborative efforts between law enforcement, healthcare providers and community service organizations will help prioritize equitable access to services, particularly for historically underserved populations, aiming to reduce stigma and promote sustainable recovery within our community. Program goals and objectives include strategies that assess, refer, and support individuals with SUD through therapeutic approaches, including peer support services and harm reduction.